The tradition of hand craftsmanship in Denmark runs deep and wide. Recently, I had occasion to run into a friend of Tom Eltang's by name of "Kniv-Per" who runs a very unusual shop in Copenhagen. Among his many areas of expertise he is a knife aficionado. He pointed out that there is a close relationship between knives and pipes. Both are a kind of male jewelry (although many women appreciate them as well). And while there are both factory knives and factory pipes, the best of both are the products of passionate artisans, who work for years to develop the skills necessary to execute pieces of beauty, elegance and functionality. Of the many astounding pieces that Per showed me, I was most impressed by those from the Danish makers. They show a simplicity, clarity of design and perfection of function that reminded me of Danish pipes. Moreover, I found them to be a remarkable value considering the hours of labor that each required. Each of the pieces shown here took approximately a week to make. I learn from Per that very few knife makers in Denmark try to make their living by their craft. As a result, their knives become labors of love, and the price is secondary.
Then I learned from Kniv-Per that there was a knife show coming up not far from me in the town of Horsens. It was to be held in the Museum of Industry, a wonderful converted gas works with fascinating exhibits, including a Hall of Machinery, a museum of the Danish "Nimbus" motorcycle, and an exhibit from a celebrated old Danish maker of radios and televisions by name of Arena, of which I had never heard, but which had been located in Horsens. You can have a little tour of the museum by clicking here. The show itself was held in the Hall of Machinery, a perfect backdrop for the carvers.Here is a slide show of the exhibition. I selected four knives from my favorite makers, each quite remarkable its own right, and in a different style.
